9mm v. 45apc question

Gun, shooting and equipment discussions unrelated to CHL issues

Moderator: carlson1

Post Reply

Topic author
stash
Senior Member
Posts in topic: 1
Posts: 850
Joined: Wed Jun 07, 2006 9:04 am
Location: Woodcreek

9mm v. 45apc question

#1

Post by stash »

Lets say you have the same two pistols for the ammo above. Both pistols are polymer and have a 3 in. barrel and are made by the same well known gun maker. If you put 10 thousands rounds a year in both for lets say 5 years am I correct in thinking the .45 pistol will suffer less abuse than the 9mm because of the pressures of the 9?
TSRA
NRA
TFC
USMC 1961-1966

Abraham
Senior Member
Posts in topic: 1
Posts: 8400
Joined: Tue Aug 14, 2007 8:43 am

Re: 9mm v. 45apc question

#2

Post by Abraham »

Beats me, but I know the ammo cost for the .45 is significantly higher compared to the 9MM.

dlh
Senior Member
Posts in topic: 1
Posts: 867
Joined: Tue Aug 18, 2015 12:16 pm

Re: 9mm v. 45apc question

#3

Post by dlh »

Would be a great scientific test.

In the gun world we hear all sorts of opinions---some based on science---some maybe not so much. There is a ton of anecdotal evidence (I did this and this is what happened) but always good to see if any scientific testing has been done under rigorous controls.
Please know and follow the rules of firearms safety.

flechero
Senior Member
Posts in topic: 1
Posts: 3485
Joined: Thu Dec 06, 2007 5:04 pm
Location: Central Texas

Re: 9mm v. 45apc question

#4

Post by flechero »

Not an engineer but I think that each is designed to handle it's respective pressures... so even if the same platform, there are some differences in the "beefiness" at critical areas... or in the case of others, they are so overbuilt that the question is moot.

Again, just a simpleton's opinion.

parabelum
Senior Member
Posts in topic: 1
Posts: 2717
Joined: Mon Dec 21, 2015 12:22 pm

Re: 9mm v. 45apc question

#5

Post by parabelum »

If you have enough money to put that many rounds through either one, you could easily buy a decent 1911 or three Glocks or so (~$.15/round on the very cheap end, 10,000 rds comes to $1500) over that time period.
But to your question, I believe that longevity is not necessarily predicated on caliber as much as it is on maintenance and upkeep, at least with modern reputable guns.
As far as pressure etc., each caliber gun will be built according to required pressure specs, so unless you are shooting 10,000 rds of +p+ in 9 as opposed to standard 230gr ball .45, the difference in longevity will really be imperceptible. My opinion at least.
User avatar

Liberty
Senior Member
Posts in topic: 1
Posts: 6343
Joined: Mon Jul 03, 2006 8:49 pm
Location: Galveston
Contact:

Re: 9mm v. 45apc question

#6

Post by Liberty »

Although I don't believe the differences in pressure will have any effect, I suspect that all things being the same, bullet velocity might have an effect on barrel wear. I also suspect that differences in barrels such as standard rifling and polygonal, and being chromlined will have an even larger role.
Liberty''s Blog
"Today, we need a nation of Minutemen, citizens who are not only prepared to take arms, but citizens who regard the preservation of freedom as the basic purpose of their daily life and who are willing to consciously work and sacrifice for that freedom." John F. Kennedy
User avatar

Beiruty
Senior Member
Posts in topic: 1
Posts: 9655
Joined: Tue Aug 12, 2008 9:22 pm
Location: Allen, Texas

Re: 9mm v. 45apc question

#7

Post by Beiruty »

The 45 will wear faster. More Muzzle energy means more powder is used. More wear is the result
Beiruty,
United we stand, dispersed we falter
2014: NRA Endowment lifetime member

LTUME1978
Senior Member
Posts in topic: 1
Posts: 458
Joined: Wed Nov 18, 2009 12:25 pm
Location: Alvin, TX

Re: 9mm v. 45apc question

#8

Post by LTUME1978 »

If you properly maintain and lubricate the pistols, I don't think you will see much difference. I have M&Ps in both 9 an 45. The 9 has 50,000 + though it with no detectable wear. The 45 is probably closer to 30K and the same for it. I do use a good synthetic oil on both and keep them very well lubricated. I think the lubrication part is really critical to extending the life of any firearm.

I typically use loads for the 9 mm that make 135,000 power factor (147 grain bullet at 920 feet per second) and 45 loads that make 175,000 power factor (200 grain SWC at 875 feet per second). Not cream puff load but not self defense level loads either.

HadEmAll
Member
Posts in topic: 1
Posts: 110
Joined: Sun Aug 06, 2006 9:44 pm

Re: 9mm v. 45apc question

#9

Post by HadEmAll »

I'm not familiar with all brands/versions of polymer pistols made in both 9mm and .45ACP, but I've got two sets, S&W Shield in 9 and .45, and Beretta PX4 Storm in 9 and .45. In both cases, the .45 version is built bigger, so not apples to apples.

I have also had the S&W M&P in 9 and .45, and the Kahr CW9/CW45. Same thing, the .45 version is larger, so again, not apples to apples.

Unless you're thinking of a particular polymer framed 3" barrelled pistol whose 9mm and .45 versions are actually the exact same size, I'd say your question is fairly impossible to answer accurately.

My innacurate theory is that the 9mm would be shot more due to economics, so would wear out faster, though I've never worn out a polymer pistol. They all have replaceable parts.

Soccerdad1995
Senior Member
Posts in topic: 1
Posts: 4337
Joined: Mon Jan 04, 2016 8:03 pm

Re: 9mm v. 45apc question

#10

Post by Soccerdad1995 »

Either way, you are spending many, many multiples of the gun cost on your 50,000 rounds of ammo, so replacing the gun would be a minimal cost in comparison. But I'd say that both guns will take a beating and at a minimum will need to have the barrels replaced, along with multiple replacements of the springs, of course.
Post Reply

Return to “General Gun, Shooting & Equipment Discussion”